PitchNOLA 2014: Living Well

Sourcing solutions that will get New Orleanians healthier, more active and better nourished.

Overview

What if every school could pay for its own nurse and social worker through Medicaid reimbursements? Or if our city had its own bike-share system? Imagine our city’s landscape dotted with community gardens and outdoor fitness parks instead of vacant lots.

PitchNOLA: Living Well, sponsored by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, will award $10,000 in total start-up funding for solutions that will get New Orleanians healthier, more active and better nourished. Pitch your solution in front of a panel of judges and 200+ audience members on April 24, 2014 and help make a difference.

PitchNOLA has received notable attention from the Times Picayune, The Advocate, Silicon Bayou News, New Orleans City Business, WWLTV, Invade NOLA, Tulane New Wave, and local business blogs.

Submit Your Solution

Although we are open to all viable solutions that promote health for underserved New Orleanians, we encourage financially sustainable ideas that tackle inefficiencies, opportunities, and bottlenecks in six main areas:

The Challenge

When faced with the numbers, Louisiana’s health statistics are low across the board. The state is among the worst in the nation when it comes to obesity, infant mortality, HIV and the number of uninsured. Overall, Louisiana is ranked 48th out of 50 states in terms of health, according to America’s Health Rankings.

For the launch of PitchNOLA: Living Well, we’re looking for small, concrete solutions that can make a big difference for underserved New Orleanians. We’re also looking for ideas with sustainable revenue streams, from utilizing health insurance reimbursements to selling a product or service. So, give us your best pitch. If you have an idea for making New Orleans a healthier place, we want to hear it!

Our Celebrity Judges

Christy Wallace Slater
Program officer for the New Orleans team with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation

Dr. John B. Elstrott
Emeritus Executive Director of the Levy-Rosenblum Institute for Entrepreneurship at Tulane University’s Freeman School of Business & Chairman of the Board, Whole Foods Market, Inc.

Emcee Extraordinaire: Eve Troeh
News Director at WWNO, New Orleans Public Radio

Eligibility

We’re looking for individuals and teams with financially sustainable ideas. You could be a nurse, doctor, social worker, teacher, student, mother, father, patient, public health student, community member, etc. You could be applying as a small nonprofit, a small business, a restaurant, a health clinic, a neighborhood association, etc.

For individuals and teams, with or without an incorporated business under $50,000 in 2013 revenues, the proposed idea can be in the idea or implementation phase.

For existing for-profit companies and nonprofit organizations with over $50,000 in 2013 revenues, the proposed idea must be a new idea that is not currently implemented.

Proposed projects, individuals, and teams may be located outside of Orleans Parish; however the project’s primary beneficiaries must be Orleans Parish residents.

Awards

Audience Participation

Audience members play a key role in this competition as part of PitchNOLA’s goal to better connect social entrepreneurs with networks and resources.

A suggested $5 donation to become an audience member at PitchNOLA will contribute to the “Audience Favorite Award.” Additional donations towards this award are greatly appreciated. Votes will be cast via text message on April 24, 2014 at the live competition.

Additionally, we encourage audience members to provide relevant contacts, resources, or constructive feedback to assist PitchNOLA’s semi-finalists in pursuing their ideas. Feedback cards will be provided at the competition.

Seats are available on a first come, first served basis. Doors open at 6:00 p.m.